Movable unloading platform



June '19, 1923.

1,459,080 H. ARNSTEN ET AL MOVABLE UNLOADING PLATFORM -Filed March 21, 1921 2 sheets sheet 1 INVENTOR' Mar/&im

` ATTORNEYS June 19, 1923.

WITNESS H. ARNSTEIN ET AL MOVABLE UNLOADING PLATFORM Filed March 21.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 19, 1923.

i F; C Ex HUGO ARNSTEIN AND oHertnEs M. MARDE OE oA nAND, oA- LIFon mAL- MovABLE uNLoADiNG PLAT'FoRM; i

A plication filed March 21,1921. Serial No. 153377. i

i a wheeled platform adaptecl to be readily ;arranged adjacent to the door-way of a,

freight car either of the' side or end door yp justable end sections to readily adapt the platform to car floors of different heights.

g Another object of the invention is to pro vide a wheeled unloading platform' 'with transversely' hi'nged sections providing for' A angular adjustment respectively, and havsupport them in suitable arrangement when "it is desired toinove the platform froni ing means for connecting the 'sections to' place to place. i

fFurther, it is an object of the' invention to provide a substantially constructed .and durable, movable, adjustable platform to facilitate the unloading of wheele'd "r ehi-- cles particularly automobiles, from freight` cars. i

The invention possesses other object s and featuresof advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be made manifest in the following description of the preferred form'.

of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and formingpart of the specificaton. It is to be understood y that it is not intended to limit the'invention to the embodimentshown by. the said draw ings and description as variations maybe adopted within the scope of the invention i as set forth in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the platform. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial sectionof the platform adjusted to' a 'freight' car for unloading purposes.

Fig. 3 is a plan and partal section showing in detail a portion of the beain and joist structure'of the floor' of the platform.

Fig. 4 'is an end view of the structure of Fig.3. i i

Fig. 5 isa perspective of a j oist hanger.

Affurther object of the 'nvention is to` provide a platform having relatively ad- Fig. 6'is a perspective of j oist pivot box: Fig. 7 is a perspectiveo'f a' 'tachment of a*guy"chain. e v

It is desirable to-provide improvedmeans for i ncreasing the' ease,` 'and decreasing time and labor, in the removalof automobiles from freig'ht 'cars irrespective ofwhether-" the cars haveside 'or end doors and irrespective, also, of .the variations of the heights of car fioors. i 1 U i Commonly; loaded cars` are switched and shifted with care and much time to a defi nite unloadi ng spot at a station so that the automobiles may be rolled from ear toj a stationary platform. i

The present invention' consists of a sub stantially constructedportablebr Whee'led' sectional apro'n or platform that maybe readily shifted from car to 'car at any' deor` lowered with respect to'` 'the ground to. meet the 'fiors of'different cars. ;Theinvention further consists' of means for' so connecting the parts' of the platform that it supporting wheel's.

The platform preferably comprises aset of sections& and 3 havingsuitable fiooring 4 laid, if des-ired; upon fa diagonal-floor 5,

which is laid` upon longitudinal josts" 6' of section 2, and joists 7 'of'section 3.

- Any suitable nunber'of the paralleljoists;

6-7may be used in the sections? may be moved bodily as a rigid structure onf sired location along the track'ortracks, and s provides for adjustment to enable the car engagingend of ,the platform to 'be' raised ,The sections are hingedly 'connected on a v substantially medial transverse line of the platform, that is, the"'sectio`ns2 and 3--are hinged or lpivoted' at contiguous'ends. This articulate connection" 'may be achieved' in Various waysso' that while one end section may be regarded as resting' stationary' upon the ground the other maybe'swung vertically on a horizontal axis to enable its swng-' ing edge tobe' deposited on or` contiguous 'to the edge of a car floor or platform so that an automobile or other vehicle or objec't may' be readily rolled or worked onto the plat-' 'form section. i i

The intermediatepart of the" platform is supported at or adjac ent to the' hinge to Carry the load anddetermine the degree of v the inclinefof thejplatform The supporting means. prefe'rably consists of' a pair of wheels 10 on an 'aXle. i i i A practieal Construction is',

shown',` in

e with up-standing side walls 17 having outzen turned-fianges18 perforated to take fastenings 19 passing through the web of the I-beam 13. The top edges of 'the fianges 18 are notched at 20 to receive longitudinal truss-ro'ds 21. p i

An end wall of the hanger is bent inwardly at 22 over the bevelled corner of the .respective ost 7, which is bolted or otherwise fastened in the hanger. The opp-osite 'ends 'of the joists 7 are bevelled off on the 20 ing plate 23 which may be bent over the lower faces 'and are provided with a wearjoist-ends and down on the top at 24.

When the foot or base section 3 is lowered against the ground a bridge plate 25, Secured on the upper face of the platform end, serves to prevent shock as the automobile rolls off of the flooring.

The hinge connecting the two sections 2 and 3 and is here shown as including pairs ,of angle brackets 26 secured on one face of .the web of the beam ,13 by the rivets 19 and through each pair'of brackets extend pivot ;pins 27, heldby cotter pins 28, or otherwise.

The contiguous ends of the joists 6 are -each encased in a box 30 having sideiwalls 31 which are doubled on themselves at 32 'and perforated to receive its pivot pin 27.

Thefianges of the angle brackets embrace the *side folds 32 of the inserted boxes and `ethepins 27 are in alinement and thus form i the pivotal 'connection between the sections 2; and 3 of the platform.

The boxes 30 have notches 33 at their top edges to receive the adjacent ends of truss rods 34, and the ends of the boxes are bent in^-at 35 over the bevelled ends of the joists 6.' By this means a very strong hinge connection is Secured between the joists 6 of the i platform section` 2 and the cross beam 13 of the platform section 3.

. Each section is thoroughly braced t'om trusses 21 and 34. p

To support the hinged section, when this by botmay be desired, a simple but strong and easily manipulated device is employed. Such'a device is shown as including a pair of trusses having posts 37 erected on the hinged end of the platform section 3 and supporting tension' elements 38. These elements have end chains .39 adap'ted to be freadilyfhooked to or unhooked ;from plat- 1 ,formcleats 40 'to hold the sections as shown in Fig l or to release `them to Swing on the P otpins.

To adjust the platform to a car floor the former is wheeled into positionat the side or end of the car and the truss chains 39 disconnected from the cleats 40. This permits metal lip plates 41 on the car engaging end of section 2 to overlap the floor of the car at the door thereof while the toe plate 25 of section 3 bears on the ground.

` In instances where end-door cars are to be unloaded 'the platform section 2 is set up against the car end and the coupler elements are cleared in a cut-away 2? in the end of section 2.

The wheels of the platform forms a me: dial support both when the platform is used in unloading and when it is being shifted about, and in the latter case the platform is substantially balanced on its .wheels.

The platfornmay have means forconnectng it to the car, as for instance hooks 43 to engageeyes 44 on the car.

While in the specification we have set for-th the advantage of the device for loading and unloading freight cars, it's-is to be understood that it is not limited to that use, but may be advantageously employed for loadingand unloading trucks or other vehicles and generally formoving articles and v materials from one placeto another.

lVhat is claimed is: i f

1. An inclined unloading platform' y for unloadng railwayfcars comprising two rigiclly connected platform sections of substantially equal length adapted to 'assume different angular relations, `whereby the'platform maybe adjusted to cause the upperend tolie 100 in the plane of the car floor, andthe lower end to rest on the ground, while maintaining the substantial continuity of the 'plat-v form.

2. An inclined unloading platform comprsing two rigidy connected platform sections adapted to assume difierent angular relations whereby the vertical distance "'be- :tween'the upper end of the platform and the ground may be vared to accommodate the platform 'to fioors of varying height and wheels on which theplatform is mounted.

'3. A sectional platform having supporting wheels on which it is substantially balanced to be wheeled about, the sectionsbeing hinged on a medial, transverse line of the platform.

4. An unloading platform having *supporting wheels on which it is substantially balanced to be wheeled about and having e transversely hinged sections and "means for temporarily holding the sectionsjin a given relation. e V

5. A portable unloadingplatform {comprisng transve rse1y, hingedly 'connected platform sections atlapted 'to assume 'different ,angular relations and wheeled` supp'ortng means' dispo'sed s'ubstantiallycin' the vertical plane of the'hinge. i V

'6. A portable platform having sections hingedly connected'transversely to 'the plat- 1301' 1,459,oso

form and truss means for temporarily holding the section in a given position.

7. An unloadng platform having` transversely and medially hingedly connected sections and having a pair of wheels whose aXis is parallel to the hnge connection for' supporting the platform `either for movement bodily from place to place, or When set raised or lowered as to the other and as to i the axle.`

9. An unloadng` platform consisting of an 'axle having end Wheels, and a pair of platform sections hngedlyconnected medially and transversely of the: platform and being supported at their hinged ends on` the aXle `so that one end can be svvu'ng to a restng position on a car floor While the' other end is resting upon the ground' In testimony whereof, We

set our hands.

HUGO ARNSTEIN. CHARLES M. MARDEL.

have hereunto 

